Published on May 16, 2001
There is one thing that can definitely be said about the New
Jersey quartet, Monster Magnet, and their fifth studio release,
Powertrip. That would be that the band proved its preceding
album,
Dopes to Infinity, was definitely the crossover album that
has led the band away from the head of the largely underground
“stoner rock” scene (that its first three albums had identified the
band) and into a new cosmic hard rock league of its own.
Lead vocalist Dave Wyndorf has used this album to confirm he is
a lyrical genius of sorts while delivering the message on the ills
of a class struggle in American society to improve one’s worth due
to the evil’s of corruption and greed. Thus the album title is well
suited as the moniker for this collection of rock anthems and
songs.
Possibly the lyric that may best represent Wyndorf’s warning on
corruption can be found in the fifth track, “Bummer”, “Some people
go to bed with Lucifer, then cry when they don’t greet the day with
God.” On the subject of greed, the chorus of the title track rivets
the following pomposity, “I’m never gonna work another day in my
life, I’m way to busy powertrippin’ and I’m gonna shed you some
light.”
Supporting this education lesson are the collaborative efforts
of bandmates Ed Mundell (lead guitar), Joe Calandra (bass guitar),
and Jon Kleinman (drums). These guys definitely get the most out of
their instruments as they aggressively match the pace and fever of
Wyndorf’s lyrical delivery.
All messages aside, there is still the usual lyrical innuendo
and foolishness that any casual listener of the band has grown
accustomed to with references to drug use and sexual proclivity. I
mean, what would a Monster Magnet album be without this sample from
the track “Tractor”, “I’ve got a knife in my back and a hole in my
arm, I’m driving the tractor on the drug farm.”?
So while this album anthemically rocks with songs like”3rd Eye
Landslide”, “Crop Circle”, “Bummer”, “Tractor” and the title track,
it also plummets into an almost seductive and satanic laced trance
with the songs “Your Lies Become You”, “19 Witches”, and “Goliath
and Vampires”. Oh yeah, lest I forget the obligatory radio friendly
entry “Space Lord” which is coincidentally this author’s least
favorite song on the album. Its entry onto the album ensures that
there is something here for all listeners.
While Monster Magnet forges into this new genre of hard rock, it
is not doing so recklessly. A well thought album concept,
frighteningly humorous yet prophetic lyrics, and a riff heavy sound
all contribute to a high level of intrigue and creative artistry
that many hard rock/metal bands only wish to achieve. So is
Powertrip the best Hard Rock/Metal album of 1998? I’ll let
you decide.